Gastroesophageal reflux disease in the elderly: more severe disease that requires aggressive therapy.

Abstract

Elderly patients with pyrosis symptoms severe enough to require upper gastrointestinal endoscopy have gastroesophageal reflux disease with more esophageal mucosal disease (erosive esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus) than patients < 60 yr, and like younger patients, may require markedly increased doses of ranitidine as large as 2400 mg/d for effective therapy.